Garment for applying cold or heat to digits

ABSTRACT

A garment for applying cold or heat to a digit of a wearer, which comprises at least one digit sleeve and a securing mechanism for securing the digit sleeve to a digit of the wearer. The digit sleeve is composed of a protective outer layer, a heating/freezing middle layer and an inner comfort layer. A cavity formed within the digit sleeve is configured for receiving the digit of the wearer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a garment for applying cold or heat to digits.

BACKGROUND

There are various cold/heat packs for treating injuries or reduce swelling. These cold/heat packs are commonly configured to cover relatively large areas.

However, there is a need for a garment for applying cold or heat to digits, i.e. fingers and toes, without freezing/heating the other digits.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a garment for applying cold or heat to digits of a wearer, comprising:

at least one digit sleeve having:

a heating/freezing layer; and

a securing mechanism for securing the digit sleeve to a digit of the wearer;

wherein a cavity formed within the digit sleeve is configured for receiving the digit of the wearer.

The present disclosure also provides a garment a described above, further comprising:

a protective outer layer; and/or

an inner comfort layer.

The present disclosure further provides a garment a described above, wherein the digit is either a finger or a toe and further comprising either a fingerless glove or a toeless sock and wherein the securing mechanism is configured for securing the finger or toe sleeve to the fingerless glove or toeless sock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the garment for applying cold or heat to a hand and fingers in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional views of a digit sleeve taken along axis 2A-2A and 2B-2B, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment for applying cold or heat to toes in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the garment for applying cold or heat to toes in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a finger sleeve used without the fingerless glove and showing an alternative embodiment of the digit sleeve; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the garment for applying cold or heat to a foot and toes in accordance with a fourth illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

Similar references used in different Figures denote similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide a garment for applying cold or heat to digits. The garment can be used, for example, to diminish swelling in the fingers or toes, and alternatively hands and/or feet, without freezing/heating the other fingers or toes.

Referring to FIG. 1, the garment for applying cold or heat to digits 10 in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is composed of a fingerless glove 12 and one or more finger sleeves 14. The finger sleeves 14 can be secured to the fingerless glove 12 using securing mechanism 16 a and 16 b or to a finger 1 of the wearer using securing mechanism 16 c. It is to be understood that the finger sleeves 14 may be configured for a specific finger and that a combination of securing mechanism 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, or no securing mechanism as all, can be used.

In the illustrative example, with further reference to FIG. 2B, the securing mechanism 16 a takes the form of a band 32 having a snap fastener groove 34 at opposite ends and corresponding snap fastener protruding lips 36 on the finger sleeve 14 and the fingerless glove 12. As for securing mechanism 16 b, it takes the form of a Velcro™ band with corresponding Velcro™ anchors on the finger sleeve 14 and the fingerless glove 12, while securing mechanism 16 c takes the form of a draw string to tighten the digit sleeve 14 around a finger 1 of the wearer. It is to be understood that other securing mechanisms may be used, for example an elastic band, magnetic contacts, buckles, hook and eye, etc.

It is to be understood that the finger sleeves 14 may be used separately from the fingerless glove 12. For example, FIG. 5 shows a finger sleeve 14 with securing mechanism 16 c (in this example a draw string) used as a standalone without the fingerless glove 12. It is to be further understood that in an alternative embodiment, the finger sleeves 14′″ may be provided with a projection 17 covering the knuckle.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the finger sleeve 14, in the illustrative embodiment, is composed of three layers, a protective outer layer 22, a heating/freezing middle layer 24 and an inner comfort layer 26.

The protective outer layer 22 is composed of a material such as, for example, Neoprene™, Goretex™, Lycra™, waterproof/breathable-Tex, Spandex™, Nylon™, polyester, polyethylene, elastoester, rayon, acrylic fibers, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the protective outer layer 22 may be made of a rigid material, for example polypropylene, plastic or other such light polymeric material, in order to act as a splinter. The cavity 11 formed within the finger sleeve 14 is configured for snugly receiving the finger 1 of the wearer.

The heating/freezing middle layer 24 is composed of a heating/freezing agent, for example gel, water and rubbing alcohol, Cryogel™, hydroxyethyl cellulose, vinyl; coated silica gel, etc., in a plastic pouch (polyethylene, acrylic polymer, etc.)

The inner comfort layer 26 is the layer in contact with the skin of the wearer and is composed of, for example, knitting mesh (Lycra™, Nylon™, power mesh, lend mesh, etc.)

It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments the nature and number of layers composing the finger sleeve 14 may vary, although the heating/freezing 24 layer will at least be present.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the fingerless glove 12 may, optionally, be provided with a pocket 18 for receiving therein, either fixed or removably, an insert of the same composition as the heating/freezing 24 layer. It is to be understood that the pocket 18 may be provided on either one or both sides of the fingerless glove 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the garment for applying cold or heat to digits 10′ in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is composed of one or more toe sleeves 14′ secured to the wearer using securing mechanism 16 d, for example an elastic strap around the wearer's ankle 4, or to a toe 2 of the wearer using a securing mechanism as previously disclosed with regard to the finger sleeves 14. It is to be understood that the toe sleeves 14′ are composed of layers similar to the finger sleeves 14 and may be configured for a specific toe and that a combination of securing mechanisms, or no securing mechanism at all, can be used.

Referring to FIG. 4, the garment for applying cold or heat to digits 10″ in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is composed of a toe pouch 14″ secured to the wearer using securing mechanism 16 e, for example and elastic strap attached to a band around the wearer's ankle 4. It is to be understood that the toe pouch 14″ is composed of layers similar to the finger sleeves 14.

It is to be understood that either of the securing mechanisms 16 d and 16 e can be used with either of the garments for applying cold or heat to digits 10′ and 10″.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown the garment for applying cold or heat to digits 10″′0 in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure in which the one or more toe sleeves 14′, or alternatively the toe pouch 14″, can be secured to a toeless sock 12′ using securing mechanism 16 b. It is to be understood that other securing mechanisms may be used, such as securing mechanisms 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, or no securing mechanism as all, can be used. The toeless sock 12′ may, optionally, be provided with one or more pocket 18 for receiving therein, either fixed or removably, an insert of the same composition as the heating/freezing 24 layer, for example located on top of the foot 3 and/or behind the ankle 4 of the wearer.

It is to be understood that the various disclosed embodiments of the garment for applying cold or heat to digits can be dimensioned so as to accommodate different genders and age groups.

Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity and by way of illustrative embodiments and examples thereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment for applying cold or heat to digits of a wearer, comprising: at least one digit sleeve having: a heating/freezing layer; and a securing mechanism for securing the digit sleeve to a digit of the wearer; wherein a cavity formed within the digit sleeve is configured for receiving the digit of the wearer.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit sleeve further comprises: a protective outer layer.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit sleeve further comprises: an inner comfort layer.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit sleeve further comprises: a protective outer layer; and an inner comfort layer.
 5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit sleeve includes a projection configured to cover a knuckle of the digit of the wearer.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the heating/freezing layer is composed of a heating/freezing agent selected from the group consisting of gel, water and rubbing alcohol, Cryogel™, hydroxyethyl cellulose, vinyl and coated silica gel.
 7. The garment of claim 2, wherein the protective outer layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of Neoprene™, Goretex™, Lycra™, waterproof/breathable-Tex, Spandex™, Nylon™, polyester, polyethylene, elastoester, rayon, acrylic fibers, polypropylene and plastic.
 8. The garment of claim 3, wherein the inner comfort layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of knitting mesh, Lycra™, Nylon™, power mesh and leno mesh.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the digit sleeve is a finger sleeve.
 10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism is a draw string to tighten the finger sleeve around the digit of the wearer,
 11. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a fingerless glove and wherein the securing mechanism is configured for securing the digit sleeve to the fingerless glove.
 12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the securing mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a band having snap fastener grooves at opposite ends corresponding to snap fastener protruding lips on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, a Velcro™ band with corresponding Velcro™ anchors on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, a band having magnetic contacts at opposite ends corresponding magnetic contacts on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, buckles, and hook and eye.
 13. The garment of claim 1, wherein the digit sleeve is a toe sleeve.
 14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the securing mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a draw string to tighten the toe sleeve around the digit of the wearer, an elastic strap around the wearer's ankle and elastic strap attached to a band around the wearer's ankle.
 15. The garment of claim 13, further comprising a toeless sock and wherein the securing mechanism is configured for securing the toe sleeve to the toeless sock.
 16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the securing mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a band having snap fastener grooves at opposite ends corresponding to snap fastener protruding lips on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, a Velcro™ band with corresponding Velcro™ anchors on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, a band having magnetic contacts at opposite ends corresponding magnetic contacts on the finger sleeve and the fingerless glove, buckles, and hook and eye.
 17. A garment for applying cold or heat to a finger of a wearer, comprising: at least one finger sleeve having: a protective outer layer; a heating/freezing middle layer; an inner comfort layer; and a securing mechanism for securing the finger sleeve to a finger of the wearer; wherein a cavity formed within the finger sleeve is configured for receiving the finger of the wearer.
 18. The garment of claim 17, further comprising a fingerless glove and wherein the securing mechanism is configured for securing the digit sleeve to the fingerless glove.
 19. A garment for applying cold or heat to a toe of a wearer, comprising: at least one toe sleeve having: a protective outer layer; a heating/freezing middle layer; an inner comfort layer; and a securing mechanism for securing the toe sleeve to a toe of the wearer; wherein a cavity formed within the toe sleeve is configured for receiving the toe of the wearer.
 20. The garment of claim 19, further comprising a toeless sock and wherein the securing mechanism is configured for securing the toe sleeve to the toeless sock. 